AUG 24 (SHERMAN, Texas) — U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced today that 30 individuals have been identified and indicted following a lengthy investigation into drug trafficking in the Eastern District of Texas.

Beginning on Aug. 22, 2012 and continuing through Aug. 23, 2012, a combined task force of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies began executing 30 federal arrest warrants for defendants charged in a conspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine in and around the Greenville, Texas area since 2010.

On Aug. 9, 2012, a federal grand jury returned a 6-count Indictment charging 30 individuals with conspiracy to distribute and possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

The following defendants are named in the indictment. Those in custody will make, or have made, initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Don Bush:

If convicted of the drug conspiracy charge, the defendants face a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison. If convicted on the weapons violations, those defendants face at least 5 years in federal prison. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of any property used to commit or facilitate the crimes or derived from proceeds of the conspiracy.

This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the DEA High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Greenville Police Department, the Hunt County Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Commerce Police Department, the Commerce A&M Police Department, the Quinlan Police Department, the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office, the Rockwall Police Department, the Wolfe City Police Department, the West Tawakoni Police Department and the Farmersville Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen Smith.

A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.